It was founded as a monastery of the Gilbertine Order by Eustace fitz John, the lord of Malton Castle.

[3] After the Dissolution, the site was bought in 1540 by Robert Holgate, the former master of the Gilbertine Order, who was then Bishop of Llandaff.

The nave aisles, crossing tower, transepts and chancel have all long since vanished, for the most part.

However, the lower parts of some of the original chancel pillars survive as ruins east of the nave, as do the remains of a chapel (including archway, bits of two walls, a piscina and a corner shaft) which once led off from the south side of the chancel.

The nave still shows evidence of a serious fire in 1500 which led to a partial rebuilding.